# NTSB WPR25FA153: American Champion 7GCBC, N342H, Big Creek, ID, May 9, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: May 9, 2025, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Big Creek, ID · U60
- Coordinates: 45.133243, -115.32177
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1332&lon=-115.3218&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Lycoming Engines, Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200138
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25FA153
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200138/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA153

## Preliminary report

On May 9, 2025, about 0900 mountain daylight time, an American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, N342H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Big Creek, Idaho. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a family member, the pilot was a hunter and had flown to many of the remote air strips around the area for pleasure. A witness located at the Big Creek airport (U60), Big Creek, Idaho, stated he observed the airplane land at the airport early that morning, and then heard the airplane take off to the north soon after. The witness did not observe the takeoff but did recall the engine sounded normal when the airplane departed. There were no known witnesses to the accident sequence. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted heavily wooded sloping mountainous terrain about 2,000 ft north of the departure end of runway 01. The airplane came to rest upright on a heading of about 200° magnetic at an elevation of 5,538 ft. mean sea level (msl). The debris path was oriented along a heading of about 010° magnetic and was about 90 ft in length. The first identifiable point of contact (FIPC) was a series of damaged trees, about 50 ft in height, that had damaged limbs near the top of the trees. The right-wing tip was observed about 10 ft north of the FIPC. Debris extended throughout the heavily wooded area to the main wreckage. Examination of the main wreckage revealed that both wings and empennage remained attached to the fuselage. The engine remained attached to the engine mount, however, was displaced downward about 15°. The instrument panel was impact damaged and separated from the fuselage structure. The right main landing gear was separated from the fuselage and was located within the debris path. All major structural components of the airplane were located throughout the wreckage debris path. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N342H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N342H), registered now, S/N 1245-98, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC
- Registry model: [American Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1245-98
- Year built: 1998
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Destination: KHRF, HAMILTON, MT
- Airport: U60, Big Creek, runway 01/19, 3,550 × 110 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observed at: KMYL, 36 nm away
- METAR: KMYL 091451Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 09/01 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP245 T00890011 51005 $

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250509005539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250509005539A), May 9, 2025: American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, Big Creek, ID, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On 05/09/2025 [privacy data omitted] suffered an apparent loss of power on final into Big Creek Airport in Idaho. Pilot attempted to land in a small clearing.…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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